Shirley #8????

[00Hdmn]

Just noticed in the pictures from night 1 at Volusia that Shirley changed his number to 8.
Curious if anyone knows why? Thanks in advance.

[JabberJaws83]

Not his regular ride. Cars aren't ready.

[foxfire2dirtracing]

It’s a Bloomquist Team Zero owned by Chris Ferguson’s dad.

[Morgs153]

When car owner Bob Cullen was a driver he ran the #8. Might have something to do with it.

[Dlmfan123]

anybody know what’s actually going on with this situation? Seeing questions everywhere but answers no where

[foxfire2dirtracing]

What was announced on broadcast: don’t know if it was Chris Fergusonor Shirley that wasn’t ready for Florida- but Chris’s dad offered the car to Shirley/ Cullen to race in Florida. Nothing (that I see) to read any deeper into. 1 team owner helping another.

[Kipimak]

Shirley signed a loyalty agreement to run for the WOO title.

[BTExpress]

What chassis is The Squirrel running this season? Is he sticking with Rockets? Heard Chris Ferguson is making the switch from Team Zero chassis to Longhorns as is every other driver on The planet for 2023?

[Dlmfan123]

Shirley signed a loyalty agreement to run for the WOO title.So did every other guy at the track

[BTExpress]

"So did every other guy at the track"

Yep, so far every driver is running with The World of Outlaws Late Model series in a Longhorn chassis. Things will settle down and get back to normal in a few months.

[Dlmfan123]

https://www.dirtondirt.com/story_12521.html

[ZERO25]

Last nite they announced 23 drivers had signed loyalty agreements!

[Raceready]

Last nite they announced 23 drivers had signed loyalty agreements!Does this mean that the locals should just go to other tracks to race on Outlaw night if the chances to make the race could be slim to none by the time they use all of that many provisional starting slots on up ? ? Or are they going to run 30 car fields ? ? lol

[Snake X3]

What chassis is The Squirrel running this season? Is he sticking with Rockets? Heard Chris Ferguson is making the switch from Team Zero chassis to Longhorns as is every other driver on The planet for 2023?

They did an article on it on DoD. Short version, Fergy's team offered Shirley the ride. Shirley had 3 new rockets that weren't ready yet. He might run some additional races in Fergy's Bloomquist car, but he's sticking with Rocket.

[Dlmfan123]

^ his rockets are with him in his hauler. They’re ready to go idk where people are getting his cars aren’t ready. It’s Ferguson’s car with Shirley’s motor. Back in the rockets at golden isles

[fryefan]

Brian stated in the DoD article that he tested the new Rocket at Bubba and that it was really good.

[ImCryn2]

Brian stated in the DoD article that he tested the new Rocket at Bubba and that it was really good.

He also stated in his interview last night that his cars were not ready. So, I guess it's still a mystery.

[foxfire2dirtracing]

I think he was referring to Fergy not being ready- repainting hauler and ect.

[gumby_32d]

Bloomquist is running a Rocket this weekend. A Rocket faithful in Shirley is in a Bloomquist car. Richards and Bloomquist sharing speed secrets maybe?

[Crossbones]

Does this mean that the locals should just go to other tracks to race on Outlaw night if the chances to make the race could be slim to none by the time they use all of that many provisional starting slots on up ? ? Or are they going to run 30 car fields ? ? lol

The first 22 starting spots are open for anyone to race their way in. Spots 23 and 24 are for top two in Points that didn't race their way in and receives starting money. After that any emergency provisionals race for points, they don't get starting money.

[dirty-white-boy]

Bloomquist is running a Rocket this weekend. A Rocket faithful in Shirley is in a Bloomquist car. Richards and Bloomquist sharing speed secrets maybe?

Not much to share as of late! LOL

[TwistedNate01]

When car owner Bob Cullen was a driver he ran the #8. Might have something to do with it.i would feel that to be more true than some these other replys! I been curious about it my self!~ Thank you mister Morgs!

[TwistedNate01]

Does this mean that the locals should just go to other tracks to race on Outlaw night if the chances to make the race could be slim to none by the time they use all of that many provisional starting slots on up ? ? Or are they going to run 30 car fields ? ? lolcar counts are slowly fading away/dwindling all over!

[squaredup12]

I’m still trying to figure this out…Shirley in Fergy’s car (owned by his dad), while Fergy was initially listed to be driving the Big Frog 58 tonight but ended up not. Can somebody make it make sense??

[zyoung25]

It's fergys step dad that owns the car, but he is basically his father. They (Cullen) must've leased the car off of them or something. Chris hasn't attempted to race speedweeks in a few years.

[Snake X3]

^ his rockets are with him in his hauler. They’re ready to go idk where people are getting his cars aren’t ready. It’s Ferguson’s car with Shirley’s motor. Back in the rockets at golden isles

You sure about that? He's been hauling them Rockets around with him an awful long way and is still running that Bloomquist car.

[Snake X3]

grew up in South Jersey halfway between East Windsor and Bridgeport, so they were the tracks I attended the most. Only made it to Flemington a handful of times, but it seemed exciting everytime I saw a race there. I remember when I was a teenager, and Billy Pauch started racing. You knew he was going to be something special when he dominated the Sportsmen class at East Windsor, Flemington and Nazareth.

Did you ever get to Wall? It was down the road from my grandfather in Toms River, so I went there a few times. First time I saw modifieds on pavement.

I remember Pauch's rookie year very well. First time I went to the races that Spring, seemed like everyone was all abuzz about Pauch already.

[Dlmfan123]

You sure about that? He's been hauling them Rockets around with him an awful long way and is still running that Bloomquist car.He said in florida he will be in his rockets now, I’m just going by what brian is saying in interviews

[BTExpress]

"Did you ever get to Wall? It was down the road from my grandfather in Toms River, so I went there a few times. First time I saw modifieds on pavement.

I remember Pauch's rookie year very well. First time I went to the races that Spring, seemed like everyone was all abuzz about Pauch already."

I did go to Wall Stadium for a few Turkey Derbies. I also went to New Egypt when it was pavement. They used to run on Wednesday nights and would attract a "whose who" of racers including Richie Evans, Jerry Cook and alot of Long Island guys like Tommy Baldwin, Charlie Jarzombek, Greg Sacks, George Brunnhiesel etc. They were all chasing the NASCAR modified championship and would race at New Egypt, even though it only paid like $800 to win a feature.

[Snake X3]

I did go to Wall Stadium for a few Turkey Derbies. I also went to New Egypt when it was pavement. They used to run on Wednesday nights and would attract a "whose who" of racers including Richie Evans, Jerry Cook and alot of Long Island guys like Tommy Baldwin, Charlie Jarzombek, Greg Sacks, George Brunnhiesel etc. They were all chasing the NASCAR modified championship and would race at New Egypt, even though it only paid like $800 to win a feature.

AHH! The Turkey Derby! We went for one of those! It was probably early to mid 70s. I have a program somewhere.

[Snake X3]

@DLMfan123 - yeah. I know you were. I heard in his post-race last night he said he's running the Bloomquist car the next few nights, then he's back to his Rockets, so East Bay? It really doesn't matter. I think the entire point was people being confused if he was ditching Rocket, which he is not.

[DirtTrackin52]

He might we wanting to keep the Team Zero. He's not been this consistent in Florida for several years.

[squaredup12]

^^^ that was kind of my thoughts last night…is this a “test drive” in one of Fergy’s/Conard’s cars that he and Cullen may possibly purchase?? Would love to see Fergy back in a Longhorn, as that seemed to be when he was most successful…but as others have mentioned on this thread, I know they called into question their safety in years past.

[Dlmfan123]

He might we wanting to keep the Team Zero. He's not been this consistent in Florida for several years.Let’s be honest here, Shirley has never been great against touring drivers